This article shall provide the method for administration and enforcement of the building construction provisions of the New York State Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code in the City of Oswego and further establishes powers, duties and responsibilities in connection therewith.
[Amended 10-23-1995; 6-22-1998]
The fire limits are shown, defined and bounded on the Fire Limits Map accompanying this chapter. The Fire Limits Map is hereby made a part of this chapter and shall be on file in the Department of Code Enforcement and City Clerk's office.
The words and phrases used in this article shall have the meanings given in Part 606 of the New York State Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code or as stated below:
ASSEMBLY SPACE
A room or space classified as a Group C-5 occupancy, regardless of the number of persons.
BUILDING PERMIT
A permit to build a building, structure or an addition or to renovate a building or structure or erect a fence, deck or pool.
[1]
CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE (CODE ENFORCEMENT)
Certification that something, other than a structure, meets the code (e.g., fence, pool, deck, etc.).
CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY
Permission to occupy a structure of new construction or conversion or renovation.
CODE ENFORCEMENT BUILDING INSPECTOR
An employee of the Department whose responsibility is to review construction plans, issue building permits, issue stop-work orders, inspect all new construction and renovations in existing buildings, serve as a member of the Electrical Licensing Board, perform duties pursuant to the Unsafe Structures Ordinance[2] and perform such other duties that are consistent with the civil service description and which may be assigned to him/her by the Director of Code Enforcement.
[3]
[Amended 6-22-1998]
CODE ENFORCEMENT HOUSING INSPECTOR
An employee of the Department responsible for the enforcement of the New York State Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code, the City of Oswego codes, and to handle all rental permit inspections and perform such duties as assigned by the Director of Code Enforcement.
[Amended 6-22-1998]
DEMOLITION PERMIT
A permit to demolish or remove a structure.
DEPARTMENT
The Department of Code Enforcement of the City of Oswego and each officer or employee of such Department.
[Added 6-22-1998]
DIRECTOR OF CODE ENFORCEMENT
The chief officer charged with the enforcement of the New York State Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code and the City of Oswego codes.
[Added 6-22-1998]
HOUSING STANDARDS
Subchapters C and F of the New York State Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code.
[Added 6-22-1998]
PREMISES
Any dwelling unit in the City of Oswego which is rental, including multiple, one- or two-family, mixed residential-business use dwelling, buildings used or occupied as a sorority or fraternity, and individual rooms rented weekly or daily, in buildings containing nine or fewer rooms.
[Added 6-22-1998; amended 8-10-1998]
RENTAL PERMIT
A permit to occupy or possess premises, expiring three years after the date of issuance.
[Added 6-22-1998]
SPECIAL PERMIT
A permit for the storage, handling, transport or disposal of a product or commodity.
UNIFORM CODE
The New York State Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code.
[Amended 10-28-1996 by L.L. No. 4-1996]
[1]
Editor's Note: The former definition of "Bureau of Code Enforcement police officer," amended 10-28-1996 by L.L. No. 4-1996, which immediately followed this definition, was repealed 6-22-1998.
[2]
Editor's Note: See Ch. 83, Dangerous Buildings.
[3]
Editor's Note: The former definition of "Code Enforcement Bureau Chief," which immediately followed this definition, was superseded 6-22-1998. See now the definition of "Director of Code Enforcement."
A. 
No person, firm, corporation, association or other organization shall commence the erection, construction, enlargement, alteration, improvement, removal or demolition of any building or structure or any portion thereof or install heating, solid fuel-burning apparatus, a chimney or flue in any dwelling unit or change the nature of the occupancy of any building or structure; or begin site preparation, excavation or filling or cause the same to be done without first obtaining a separate building permit from the Department for each such building or structure, except that no building permit shall be required for the performance of ordinary repairs which are not structural in nature and do not include the installation or extension of any electrical systems or fire protection fixtures.
[Amended 10-28-1996 by L.L. No. 4-1996; 6-22-1998]
B. 
Building permit application. Application for a building permit shall be made to the Department on forms it provides. The application for a building permit and its accompanying documents shall contain sufficient information to permit a determination that the intended work accords with the requirements of the Uniform Code. If it is determined that the information is not sufficient or does not meet the Uniform Code standards, then the application will be deferred until such time as the information is provided.
[Amended 6-22-1998]
C. 
Plans and specifications. Each application for a building permit shall be accompanied by a complete set of plans and specifications drawn to scale, also a plot plan showing the location and size of all proposed new construction, including the details of structural, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, heating, ventilation and air conditioning, including computations, stress diagrams and other technical data. Plans and specifications shall bear a stamp and signature in compliance with § 7209 of the State Education Law, of the person responsible for the design and drawings.
D. 
Issuance of building permits.
(1) 
The Director of Code Enforcement or Building Inspector shall examine or cause to be examined all applications for permits and the plans, specifications and documents filed therewith. He/she shall approve or disapprove the application within a reasonable time.
(2) 
Upon approval of the application and upon the receipt of the proper legal fees thereof, the Director of Code Enforcement shall issue or cause to be issued a building permit to the applicant upon the appropriate forms and shall affix his signature thereto. The authority conferred by such permit may be limited by conditions, if any, contained therein.
E. 
Display of permit. A building permit issued pursuant to this section shall be prominently displayed on the property or premises to which it pertains during the entire course of construction activity.
F. 
Duration of permit. A building permit shall expire one year from the date of issue.
G. 
Permit applicants with outstanding violations or unpaid monies.
(1) 
No such permit shall be granted to or renewed for an applicant who is in violation of any City of Oswego code, ordinance or local law (hereinafter "violations") or who owes property taxes, water or sewer fees, special assessments, fines for violations of City ordinances or any other fees or past due monies of any name or nature owed to the City of Oswego (hereinafter "unpaid monies").
[Added 2-9-2015 by L.L. No. 2-2015; amended 8-14-2015 by L.L. No. 6-2015]
(a) 
The applicant shall have the burden of providing proof in a form acceptable to the department that there are no such violations or unpaid monies.
(b) 
In the event that the applicant has accrued violations or unpaid monies, such permit or renewal thereof shall be denied regardless of whether such violations or unpaid monies relate to a parcel of real property for which the application is made or another parcel owned by applicant or are personal to the applicant.
(c) 
In the event that the applicant has accrued violations or unpaid monies, such permit or renewal thereof shall be denied regardless of whether such violations or unpaid monies occurred or accrued before the effective date of this local law.
(d) 
Such permit, once granted, shall be revoked in the event that the applicant accrues violations or unpaid monies, or violations or unpaid monies are discovered, after the permit is granted. The revocation shall take effect five business days after receipt by the permit holder of notice from the City of Oswego of the pending revocation. Upon such revocation, all permitted activities and privileges shall immediately cease.
(e) 
No application fees shall be refunded upon revocation of the permit.
(f) 
The applicant must reapply for the issuance of such revoked permit by submitting a new application and paying all necessary application fees, and any such permitted activities or privileges may only be resumed once a new permit has been granted.
(g) 
All requirements set forth herein shall also apply to nonperson entities and such permit or renewal thereof shall be denied to an entity, or revoked, if a person with a substantial interest in such entity owes such unpaid monies or has accrued such violations. A "person with a substantial interest" shall mean an ownership interest of more than 10% of, membership on the governing board of, holding an office in or holding the ability to cast or control more than 10% of the votes in such entity.
(2) 
Notwithstanding the provisions contained in this section to the contrary, when in the opinion of the Director of Code Enforcement the issuance of a permit is necessary to prevent harm to life, safety, or the general welfare of the public, the Director of Code Enforcement shall be authorized to issue said permit for the sole and exclusive purpose of bringing such violations into compliance with the Code of the City of Oswego. Nothing contained herein shall relieve the property owner from complying with all other applicable sections of the Code including, without limitation, the provisions contained in this section.
[Added 4-10-2017 by L.L. No. 2-2017]
Any aggrieved person may, on a form prescribed by the Secretary of State and accompanied by all the necessary documents and fees as specified by the state, appeal to the Regional Board of Review for a variance from the New York State Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code.
The permit may, upon written application, be renewed for one year, provided that:
A. 
The permit has not been revoked or suspended at the time the renewal is made.
B. 
The relevant information in the application is up-to-date.
C. 
The renewal fee of $10 is paid.
D. 
Permit applicants with outstanding violations or unpaid monies.
(1) 
No such permit shall be granted to or renewed for an applicant who is in violation of any City of Oswego code, ordinance or local law (hereinafter "violations") or who owes property taxes, water or sewer fees, special assessments, fines for violations of City ordinances or any other fees or past due monies of any name or nature owed to the City of Oswego (hereinafter "unpaid monies").
[Added 2-9-2015 by L.L. No. 2-2015; amended 8-14-2015 by L.L. No. 6-2015]
(a) 
The applicant shall have the burden of providing proof in a form acceptable to the department that there are no such violations or unpaid monies.
(b) 
In the event that the applicant has accrued violations or unpaid monies, such permit or renewal thereof shall be denied regardless of whether such violations or unpaid monies relate to a parcel of real property for which the application is made or another parcel owned by applicant or are personal to the applicant.
(c) 
In the event that the applicant has accrued violations or unpaid monies, such permit or renewal thereof shall be denied regardless of whether such violations or unpaid monies occurred or accrued before the effective date of this local law.
(d) 
Such permit, once granted, shall be revoked in the event that the applicant accrues violations or unpaid monies, or violations or unpaid monies are discovered, after the permit is granted. The revocation shall take effect five business days after receipt by the permit holder of notice from the City of Oswego of the pending revocation. Upon such revocation, all permitted activities and privileges shall immediately cease.
(e) 
No application fees shall be refunded upon revocation of the permit.
(f) 
The applicant must reapply for the issuance of such revoked permit by submitting a new application and paying all necessary application fees, and any such permitted activities or privileges may only be resumed once a new permit has been granted.
(g) 
All requirements set forth herein shall also apply to nonperson entities and such permit or renewal thereof shall be denied to an entity, or revoked, if a person with a substantial interest in such entity owes such unpaid monies or has accrued such violations. A "person with a substantial interest" shall mean an ownership interest of more than 10% of, membership on the governing board of, holding an office in or holding the ability to cast or control more than 10% of the votes in such entity.
(2) 
Notwithstanding the provisions contained in this section to the contrary, when in the opinion of the Director of Code Enforcement the issuance of a permit is necessary to prevent harm to life, safety, or the general welfare of the public, the Director of Code Enforcement shall be authorized to issue said permit for the sole and exclusive purpose of bringing such violations into compliance with the Code of the City of Oswego. Nothing contained herein shall relieve the property owner from complying with all other applicable sections of the Code including, without limitation, the provisions contained in this section.
[Added 4-10-2017 by L.L. No. 2-2017]
Construction work for which a building permit has been issued shall be inspected for approval prior to enclosing or covering any portion thereof and upon completion of each phase at construction, including but not limited to foundation, framing, superstructural, electrical, plumbing, insulation, heating, air conditioning, solid wood-burning device and chimney and flue vents. It shall be the responsibility of the owner, applicant or his agent to inform the appropriate inspector, either in writing or by calling, that the work is ready for inspection and to schedule such inspection.
[Amended 6-22-1998]
Electrical inspections performed pursuant to the Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code by other third party inspectors not employed by the Department may be performed if said person or agency had previously been approved by the Mayor and Common Council.
[Amended 6-22-1998]
Whenever the Department of the City of Oswego has reasonable grounds to believe that work on any building or structure is proceeding without a building permit or is otherwise in violation of provisions of any applicable laws, codes, ordinances, rules or regulations or not in conformity with the provisions of an application, plans or specifications on the basis of which a building permit was issued or in an unsafe and dangerous manner, he shall notify the owner of the property or the owner's agent or the person performing the work to suspend all work, and any such person shall forthwith stop such work and suspend all building activities until the stop-work order has been rescinded. Such stop-work order and notice shall be in writing, shall state the conditions under which the work may be resumed and may be served upon a conspicuous portion of the building under construction and a copy of the same shall be sent to the person, firm or corporation by certified mail, return receipt requested. A stop-work order can only be rescinded by the person issuing the order.
A. 
Certificates of occupancy required.
[Amended 6-22-1998]
(1) 
No building hereafter erected subject to the Uniform Code shall be used or occupied in whole or in part until a certificate of occupancy shall have been issued by the Department.
(2) 
No building similarly enlarged, extended or altered upon which work has been performed which required the issuance of a building permit shall be occupied or used after the completion of the alteration or work, unless a certificate of occupancy shall have been issued by the Department.
(3) 
No change shall be made in the use or type of occupancy of an existing building unless a certificate of occupancy authorizing such change shall have been issued by the Department.
B. 
Inspection prior to issue. Before issuing a certificate of occupancy, the Director of Code Enforcement or Building Inspector shall examine or cause to be examined all buildings, structures and sites for which an application has been filed for a building permit to construct, enlarge, alter, repair, remove, demolish or change the use or occupancy, and he/she may conduct such inspections as he/she deems appropriate from time to time during and upon completion of the work for which a building permit has been issued. There shall be maintained in the Department a record of all such examinations and inspections, together with a record of findings of violations of the law.
[Amended 6-22-1998]
C. 
Temporary certificates. A temporary certificate of occupancy may be issued for a building or structure or part thereof before the entire work covered by the building permit shall have been completed, provided that it may be occupied safely without endangering life or the public welfare. A temporary certificate of occupancy shall remain in effect for a period not to exceed six months from the date of issuance. For good cause, the Department may allow a maximum of two extensions for periods not exceeding six months each.
[Amended 6-22-1998]
D. 
Test. Whenever there is reasonable grounds to believe that any material, construction, equipment or assembly does not conform to the requirements of the New York State Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code and other applicable building laws, ordinances or regulations, the Department may require the same to be subjected to tests in order to furnish proof of such compliance.
[Amended 6-22-1998]
E. 
Certificate of compliance. A certificate of compliance shall be issued for all work not applicable for a certificate of occupancy (fences, decks, swimming pools, etc.). This in no way replaces a zoning certificate of compliance.